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→‎Early life and career: Added "Citation needed" template for unsourced "After gaining weight, her roles were mostly confined to small character parts on television".
 
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{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Barbara Pepper
| name = Barbara Pepper
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|07|18|1915|05|31|mf=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|07|18|1915|05|31|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Panorama City, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Panorama City, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]]
| resting_place =
| other_names = Barbara P. Enfield (married name)
| other_names = Barbara P. Enfield (married name)
| occupation = Actress
| occupation = Actress
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Marion Pepper was born in New York City, the daughter of actor David Mitchell "Dave" Pepper, and his wife, Harrietta S. Pepper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=vgG5&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Marion+B&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Pepper&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1915&msbpn__ftp=New+York&MSAV=1&uidh=57k&pcat=34&h=1253492&dbid=61457&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1|website=Search.ancestrylibrary.com|accessdate=April 10, 2018|title=New York, New York Birth Index: 1910-1965 [database on-line] (CERTIFICATE #29526). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry Library Edition, Operations Inc.}}</ref> At age 16 she started life in show business with [[Goldwyn Girls]], a musical stock company where she met [[Lucille Ball]], with whom she would remain friends, during production of [[Eddie Cantor]]'s ''[[Roman Scandals]]'' in 1933.<ref name="TCM bio">{{cite web |title=Barbara Pepper |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/150159%7C17819/Barbara-Pepper/ |website=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=WarnerMedia |accessdate=11 March 2019 |location=TCM Archive Materials}}</ref>
Marion Pepper was born in New York City, the daughter of actor David Mitchell "Dave" Pepper, and his wife, Harrietta S. Pepper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=vgG5&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Marion+B&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Pepper&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1915&msbpn__ftp=New+York&MSAV=1&uidh=57k&pcat=34&h=1253492&dbid=61457&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1|website=Search.ancestrylibrary.com|accessdate=April 10, 2018|title=New York, New York Birth Index: 1910-1965 [database on-line] (CERTIFICATE #29526). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry Library Edition, Operations Inc.}}</ref> At age 16 she started life in show business with [[Goldwyn Girls]], a musical stock company where she met [[Lucille Ball]], with whom she would remain friends, during production of [[Eddie Cantor]]'s ''[[Roman Scandals]]'' in 1933.<ref name="TCM bio">{{cite web |title=Barbara Pepper |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/150159%7C17819/Barbara-Pepper/ |website=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=WarnerMedia |accessdate=11 March 2019 |location=TCM Archive Materials}}</ref>


[[File:Barbara Pepper in The Rogue's Tavern cropped.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Pepper in ''The Rogues' Tavern'']]
[[File:Barbara Pepper in The Rogue's Tavern cropped.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Pepper in ''The Rogues' Tavern'']]
From 1937 to 1943, Pepper was a prolific actress, appearing in 43 movies, mostly in supporting roles or in minor films, with exceptions being main characters in ''[[The Rogues' Tavern]]'' and ''[[Mummy's Boys]]'', both feature films released in 1936.<ref name="TCM bio" /> Among her later film parts were small roles in ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' (1963) and ''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964). She also performed radio parts.
From 1937 to 1943, Pepper was a prolific actress, appearing in 43 movies, mostly in supporting roles or in minor films, with exceptions being main characters in ''[[The Rogues' Tavern]]'' and ''[[Mummy's Boys]]'', both feature films released in 1936.<ref name="TCM bio" /> Among her later film parts were small roles in ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' (1963) and ''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964). She also performed radio parts.


In 1943, she married actor [[Craig Reynolds (actor)|Craig Reynolds]] (né Harold Hugh Enfield), and the couple later had two sons. After Reynolds died in 1949 in a California motorcycle accident, Pepper was left to raise their children alone.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Erskine|title=A Colorful and Tragic Real Life|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10572073/the_kingston_daily_freeman|work=The Kingston Daily Freeman|date=April 29, 1967|location=New York, Kingston|page=25|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=April 26, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref> She never remarried.
In 1943, she married actor [[Craig Reynolds (actor)|Craig Reynolds]] (né Harold Hugh Enfield), and the couple later had two sons. After Reynolds died in 1949 in a California motorcycle accident, Pepper was left to raise their children alone.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Erskine|title=A Colorful and Tragic Real Life|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10572073/the_kingston_daily_freeman|work=The Kingston Daily Freeman|date=April 29, 1967|location=New York, Kingston|page=25|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=April 26, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref> She never remarried.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}


After gaining weight, her roles were mostly confined to small character parts on television, including several appearances on ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show]]'', ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'', and ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]''. She made four appearances on ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', including the role of Martha Dale, mother of the title character, in the 1957 episode "The Case of the Vagabond Vixen".<ref>{{cite web |title=Perry Mason Actor Page |url=http://www.perrymasontvseries.com/database/actorpage.php?actorid=1362 |website=The Perry Mason DataBase |accessdate=11 March 2019}}</ref> In 1957, she guest-starred in the episode "The Diet" of the [[CBS]] [[situation comedy]] ''[[Mr. Adams and Eve]]'', credited as "Fat Woman."<ref>[http://ctva.biz/US/Comedy/MrAdamsAndEve.htm The Classic TV Archive Mr. Adams and Eve (1957-58) Accessed 12 June 2021]</ref> In 1958, she appeared as "Boxcar Annie" on the television [[Western (genre)|western]] ''[[Tales of Wells Fargo]]'' in the episode titled "Butch Cassidy".
After gaining weight, her roles were mostly confined to small character parts on television,{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}} including several appearances on ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show]]'', ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'', and ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]''. She made four appearances on ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', including the role of Martha Dale, mother of the title character, in the 1957 episode "The Case of the Vagabond Vixen". In 1957, she guest-starred in the episode "The Diet" of the sitcom ''[[Mr. Adams and Eve]]'', credited as "Fat Woman." In 1958, she appeared as "Boxcar Annie" on the television [[Western (genre)|western]] ''[[Tales of Wells Fargo]]'' in the episode titled "Butch Cassidy". In 1959, she appeared on the TV series ''The Texan'' as Mary Devlin in the episode "The Telegraph Story".


A long-time friend of [[Lucille Ball]],{{cn|date=June 2020}} Pepper was first considered for the role of Ethel Mertz on ''I Love Lucy'',{{cn|date=June 2020}} but was passed over, purportedly due to the fact that she had a drinking problem.
A long-time friend of [[Lucille Ball]], Pepper was first considered for the role of Ethel Mertz on ''I Love Lucy'', but was passed over, purportedly due to the fact that she had a drinking problem. [[William Frawley]] ("Fred Mertz") did, likewise, and already had been cast. It was felt that having two drinkers in the cast might eventually cause difficulties so another actress was sought.<ref name=lucyshow>{{cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71122/20-fun-facts-about-i-love-lucy|title=20 Things You Might Not Have Known About I Love Lucy|publisher=Mental Floss|access-date=August 27, 2022|date=August 25, 2018|author=Kara Kovalchik}}</ref>
[[William Frawley]] ("Fred Mertz") did, likewise, and had already been cast. It was felt that having two drinkers in the cast might eventually cause difficulties so another actress was sought.{{cn|date=June 2020}}


Pepper may be best remembered as the first Doris Ziffel on ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'' in 1964, although her character's name on the "Genghis Keane" episode of ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'' was Ruth Ziffel. Her role as Doris Ziffel continued on ''[[Green Acres]]'' from 1965 to 1968, until health ailments finally forced her to leave that weekly series. Actress [[Fran Ryan]] replaced her on ''Green Acres'', which would continue to run for another three years. Pepper's final performance was in ''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]'' (1969), in which she played [[Jerry Lewis]]'s secretary.{{Citation needed |date=September 2020}}
Pepper may be best remembered as the first Doris Ziffel on ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'' in 1964, although her character's name on the "Genghis Keane" episode of ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'' was Ruth Ziffel. Her role as Doris Ziffel continued on ''[[Green Acres]]'' from 1965 to 1968 until health ailments finally forced her to leave that weekly series. Actress [[Fran Ryan]] replaced her on ''Green Acres'', which ran for another three years. Pepper's final performance was in ''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]'' (1969), in which she played [[Jerry Lewis]]'s secretary.<ref name=last>{{cite web|url=https://friendsofalbanyhistory.wordpress.com/2018/11/17/a-glamour-girl-and-her-pig/|title=A Glamour Girl and Her Pig|author=albanymuskrat|publisher=The Friends of Albany History|date=November 17, 2018|access-date=August 27, 2022}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Barbara Pepper died of a [[coronary thrombosis]] at age 54 on July 18, 1969, in [[Panorama City, California]]. <ref name="death">{{cite web|url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/what-happened-to-the-cast-of-green-acres-the-cast-then-and-now/|title=Whatever Happened to the Cast of 'Green Acres'? |author=Ed Gross|date=Aug 27, 2020|accessdate=Sep 25, 2020|publisher=Closer Weekly}}</ref> She is buried at [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] in Los Angeles.
Pepper died of a [[coronary thrombosis]] at age 54 on July 18, 1969, in [[Panorama City, Los Angeles|Panorama City]], California. <ref name="death">{{cite web|url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/what-happened-to-the-cast-of-green-acres-the-cast-then-and-now/|title=Whatever Happened to the Cast of 'Green Acres'? |author=Ed Gross|date=Aug 27, 2020|accessdate=Sep 25, 2020|publisher=Closer Weekly}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
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* ''[[The Strange Case of Dr. Meade]]'' (1938) - Mattie
* ''[[The Strange Case of Dr. Meade]]'' (1938) - Mattie
*''[[Sweethearts (1938 film)|Sweethearts]]'' (1938) - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
*''[[Sweethearts (1938 film)|Sweethearts]]'' (1938) - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
*''[[The Girl Downstairs]]'' (1938) - Woman at the Bar (uncredited)
*''[[The Girl Downstairs (film)|The Girl Downstairs]]'' (1938) - Woman at the Bar (uncredited)
*''[[They Made Me a Criminal]]'' (1939) - Budgie
*''[[They Made Me a Criminal]]'' (1939) - Budgie
*''[[Off the Record (film)|Off the Record]]'' (1939) - Flossie - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
*''[[Off the Record (film)|Off the Record]]'' (1939) - Flossie - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
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*''[[Murder, He Says]]'' (1945) - Bonnie Fleagle
*''[[Murder, He Says]]'' (1945) - Bonnie Fleagle
*''[[The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry]]'' (1945) - Annie (uncredited)
*''[[The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry]]'' (1945) - Annie (uncredited)
*''Prison Ship'' (1945) - Winnie De Voe (uncredited)
* ''[[Prison Ship (1945 film)|Prison Ship]]'' (1945) - Winnie De Voe (uncredited)
*''[[The Hoodlum Saint]]'' (1946) - Dance Contestant #1 (uncredited)
*''[[The Hoodlum Saint]]'' (1946) - Dance Contestant #1 (uncredited)
* ''[[Terror Trail (1946 film)|Terror Trail]]'' (1946) - Karen Kemp, the Louisville Lady
* ''[[Terror Trail (1946 film)|Terror Trail]]'' (1946) - Karen Kemp, the Louisville Lady
Line 165: Line 163:
*''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964) - Doolittle's Dance Partner (uncredited)
*''[[My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964) - Doolittle's Dance Partner (uncredited)
*''[[Kiss Me, Stupid]]'' (1964) - Big Bertha
*''[[Kiss Me, Stupid]]'' (1964) - Big Bertha
*''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]'' (1969) - Peter's Secretary (uncredited) (final film role)
*''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]'' (1969) - Peter's Secretary (uncredited)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery]]
[[Category:Deaths from coronary thrombosis]]
[[Category:Deaths from coronary thrombosis]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]

Latest revision as of 23:58, 24 April 2024

Barbara Pepper
Pepper in Girls in Chains (1943)
Born
Marion Pepper

(1915-05-31)May 31, 1915
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 18, 1969(1969-07-18) (aged 54)
Panorama City, California, U.S.
Other namesBarbara P. Enfield (married name)
OccupationActress
Years active1931–1969
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1943; died 1949)​

Barbara Pepper (born Marion Pepper; May 31, 1915 – July 18, 1969)[1] was an American stage, television, radio, and film actress. She is best known as the first Doris Ziffel on the sitcom Green Acres.

Early life and career[edit]

Marion Pepper was born in New York City, the daughter of actor David Mitchell "Dave" Pepper, and his wife, Harrietta S. Pepper.[2] At age 16 she started life in show business with Goldwyn Girls, a musical stock company where she met Lucille Ball, with whom she would remain friends, during production of Eddie Cantor's Roman Scandals in 1933.[3]

Pepper in The Rogues' Tavern

From 1937 to 1943, Pepper was a prolific actress, appearing in 43 movies, mostly in supporting roles or in minor films, with exceptions being main characters in The Rogues' Tavern and Mummy's Boys, both feature films released in 1936.[3] Among her later film parts were small roles in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and My Fair Lady (1964). She also performed radio parts.

In 1943, she married actor Craig Reynolds (né Harold Hugh Enfield), and the couple later had two sons. After Reynolds died in 1949 in a California motorcycle accident, Pepper was left to raise their children alone.[4] She never remarried.[citation needed]

After gaining weight, her roles were mostly confined to small character parts on television,[citation needed] including several appearances on I Love Lucy, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Petticoat Junction, and The Jack Benny Program. She made four appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Martha Dale, mother of the title character, in the 1957 episode "The Case of the Vagabond Vixen". In 1957, she guest-starred in the episode "The Diet" of the sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve, credited as "Fat Woman." In 1958, she appeared as "Boxcar Annie" on the television western Tales of Wells Fargo in the episode titled "Butch Cassidy". In 1959, she appeared on the TV series The Texan as Mary Devlin in the episode "The Telegraph Story".

A long-time friend of Lucille Ball, Pepper was first considered for the role of Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy, but was passed over, purportedly due to the fact that she had a drinking problem. William Frawley ("Fred Mertz") did, likewise, and already had been cast. It was felt that having two drinkers in the cast might eventually cause difficulties so another actress was sought.[5]

Pepper may be best remembered as the first Doris Ziffel on Petticoat Junction in 1964, although her character's name on the "Genghis Keane" episode of Petticoat Junction was Ruth Ziffel. Her role as Doris Ziffel continued on Green Acres from 1965 to 1968 until health ailments finally forced her to leave that weekly series. Actress Fran Ryan replaced her on Green Acres, which ran for another three years. Pepper's final performance was in Hook, Line & Sinker (1969), in which she played Jerry Lewis's secretary.[6]

Death[edit]

Pepper died of a coronary thrombosis at age 54 on July 18, 1969, in Panorama City, California. [7]

Selected filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 144. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "New York, New York Birth Index: 1910-1965 [database on-line] (CERTIFICATE #29526). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry Library Edition, Operations Inc". Search.ancestrylibrary.com. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Barbara Pepper". Turner Classic Movies. TCM Archive Materials: WarnerMedia. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  4. ^ Johnson, Erskine (April 29, 1967). "A Colorful and Tragic Real Life". The Kingston Daily Freeman. New York, Kingston. p. 25. Retrieved April 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Kara Kovalchik (August 25, 2018). "20 Things You Might Not Have Known About I Love Lucy". Mental Floss. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  6. ^ albanymuskrat (November 17, 2018). "A Glamour Girl and Her Pig". The Friends of Albany History. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  7. ^ Ed Gross (August 27, 2020). "Whatever Happened to the Cast of 'Green Acres'?". Closer Weekly. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barbara Pepper.
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